Fabian Cancellara will start his tenth Tour de France on Saturday. He remains ambitious but do not rule out that it will be his last Tour.
"Nothing has been decided about next year," Cancellara added immediately when asked about his future at the pre-race press conference. "Next year is still far away. But I have had the thought that perhaps this could be my last Tour.
"I try to think about it as little as possible and to focus on my own goals and those of the team. I want to put my experience at the service of the team."
The first stage is the only time trial of the Tour. Cancellara, of course, is among the favorites on the 13.8 km circuit. "I have confidence in my time trial. The distance suits me well and the pressure does not bother me."
The Swiss has won the opening time trial in the Tour four times. But the Tour hasn't started with a time trial since 2012. And Cancellara is not as unbeatable as he was a few years ago.
The eight-time stage winner sees Dutchman Tom Dumoulin, Australian Rohan Dennis and of course German Tony Martin as his main rivals.
"I have wonderful memories of my victories in the Tour. Each time there were unforgettable days. I hope to get to experience it again."
In addition to the time trial on the first day Cancellara also hopes to show himself in other stages.
"It's a very tough first week, with several stages that suit me. The stage on Sunday promises to be nervous and windy and the stages with finishes on the Mur de Huy, the Mur de Bretagne and the team time trial should suit me. But the ride I most look forward to is, of course, the one with the cobblestones. "
25.04 - 01.05: Le Tour de Bretagne Cycliste |
01.05: Cyclis Classic |
01.05: Omloop van het Waasland |
01.05: Eschborn-Frankfurt |
01.05: GP Vorarlberg |
01.05: Eschborn-Frankfurt U23 |
03.05: La Classique Morbihan |
01.05 - 04.05: La Coupe du President de la Vi... |
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